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Ladybug hadn't even noticed the akuma was coming up behind her until she heard Chat take a blow meant for her. She turned, praying he was okay. Her heart caught in her throat. The akuma had plunged its sword through Chat's stomach. It was all she could do not to scream.
"It's okay," Chat said, nearly falling off the building before Ladybug caught him, and lied him down. "Purify the akuma."
God, there was so much blood. Marinette had never seen so much blood.
"Go."
"I—" She was cut off by the akuma lunging back at them. Ladybug barely noticed when she grabbed Chat's staff, blocking the akuma's blow. "Stay right there, Chaton," She said. "I'll be right back."
Ladybug drove the akuma to the ground, as far as she could away from Chat Noir. She must've looked nearly feral to any onlookers, but she couldn't bring herself to care. In fact, she'd like to see how any critic would react in a similar situation. She was furious. "How dare you," She growled. "I know you're listening, Hawkmoth. What kind of sick monster repeatedly tries to kill two children!" Half way though, she began enunciating each word with a blow.
Her eyes zeroed in on a neckless hidden under the akuma's armor. She didn't bother to worry about a lucky charm, instead ripping it straight off the akuma's neck, and crushing it in her hand, releasing the cursed butterfly.
She purified it, not bothering to stay to reassure the victim like she and Chat typically would, instead racing back to the building where she'd left her partner.
"Chat!" Ladybug called, landing back on the roof.
"M'lady," Chat Noir breathed out, still weak even after the damage to everything else had been mostly repaired. The hole in his stomach was gone, at least a portion of his blood had been replenished, but there was no way he would walk away without some level of damage, even if it would be nothing but a scar.
"It's okay," Ladybug whispered more to herself than Chat, taking him onto her lap. "You're okay. You're safe now."
"Thanks to you," Chat said.
Ladybug shook her head. "No, it's my fault you were hurt in the first place."
"It's not your fault!"
"Yes it is! If I had just paid better attention! I can't— you keep—" a sob fell from her lips. "I can't watch you die. I just can't," she whispered.
"I'm right here," Chat said, forcing himself up. He squeezed her hands. "I didn't die."
"But you could have. You have got to stop being so reckless with your life!"
"If I had let you get hit, no one could've purified the akuma. You would've died, and I wouldn't be able to fix it. I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
"How do we know you'd come back?" Ladybug said. "The akumas keep getting stronger, and I can only fix so much. What happens when your injuries become too much? Do you think I'd be able to live with myself either?"
Chat didn't respond.
"I couldn't," Ladybug said, voice trembling. "You're the closest friend I have. You know me better than my own parents at this point."
"You're my closest friend, too. That's why I can't lose you."
"That doesn't mean you have to jump into danger like you do. What would I tell your family?" Lady took in a horrified breath. "I wouldn't even know who they were."
"I bet you could figure it out," Chat let out a forced laugh. "But I won't die on you."
"You can't promise that."
"No, I can't."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"We'll figure this out together." Ladybug stood up, holding out a hand to Chat Noir.
He clasped it with a smile. "We always do."